Chap. XII.] PkUosophij of the Human Mind. 1 8 1 



compounding those which arc more simple. .0. 

 Judging. 6. Reasoning. 7. Taste. 8. Moral per- 

 ception. 9. Consciousness. — Each of these he sup- 

 poses to be an original and distinct power, not re- 

 solvable into any one or more of the rest. 



This may be pronounced an important step in 

 the progress of metaphysical science. Incalcula- 

 ble injury has been done to various branches of 

 philosopliy by injudicious attempts to reduce nu- 

 merous facts and principles to one or two classes, 

 wlien they do not admit of such plausible simpli- 

 fication, and when they can be considered with 

 advantage only in detail. The progress of medi- 

 cal science has been retarded by too close an ad- 

 herence to systems of nosological arrangement. 

 Chemical philosophy may also be said to have 

 been disserved by premature attempts to form a re- 

 gular classification of its phenomena. Metaphy- 

 sicians have fallen into a similar mistake. One 

 writer on the human mind tells us that all its ope- 

 rations may be explained by referring them to 

 sensation and reflection. Another would derive all 

 our ideas from sensation only ; while a third would 

 account for every intellectual exercise, by ascrib- 

 ing them to vibrations of a stronger or M-eaker 

 kind. Though some of these writers approach 

 much nearer to the true doctrine of mind than 

 others, they are all erroneous ; and many ol' their 

 mistakes arise from aiming at a simplicity of which 

 the subject does not admit. The works of the 

 Author of Nature can be contemplated by us 

 only in detail : and the process of generalisation, 

 though always pleasing to human pride, and some- 

 times, in a degree, just and useful; yet, when 



